Table of contents:
- How can coffee make us less sleepy?
- Why doesn't coffee work to prevent sleepiness in people who are sleep deprived?
Drink coffee when you feel it sleepy seems like the right choice. The caffeine in the coffee you drink produces a number of chemical reactions in the brain that act to keep you awake. But, wait a minute, if you were sure about this, did you know that coffee is no longer effective when you are sleep deprived? Check out the explanation.
How can coffee make us less sleepy?
The effect of coffee can keep you awake because it contains caffeine. Caffeine works by blocking the brain's ability to absorb adenosine, which slows down nerve activity and causes the human body to become sleepy .
The caffeine molecule is chemically similar to adenosine but, when it attaches to nerve cells, caffeine does not cause the cells to slow down but rather blocks the adenosine nerve receptors and causes an increase in the activity level of the nerve cells.
This increase causes the body to think that something is wrong and then the body goes into a psychological reaction 'f light or fight 'Namely the body's response when threatened, or there is danger. As a result, the body floods the bloodstream with adrenaline, which increases blood pressure and heart rate.
It also increases the rate of blood flow to the muscles and dilates the alveoli and bronchioles in the lungs, all of which keep the human body awake. In the same way that amphetamine (a type of medicine) does, caffeine also increases the level of dopamine in the body, dopamine is a neurotransmitter that stimulates brain function and induces overall well-being, thus making you feel more energetic.
When a person then does not consume caffeine, the body can become sensitive to adenosine, which can cause a drop in blood pressure and lead to headaches, irritability and difficulty sleeping soundly. Prolonged use of caffeine or the effects of coffee can lead to addiction and poisoning.
Why doesn't coffee work to prevent sleepiness in people who are sleep deprived?
A study conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that caffeine use in someone who was sleep deprived for a few days, was no longer effective at resisting sleepiness.
The study involved 48 people who slept only five hours per night for five consecutive days. During the study they were given a dose of 200 milligrams of caffeine, the equivalent of a large cup of coffee.
The results of this study indicate that someone who lacks sleep in the last three days has decreased levels of alertness and productivity performance. The use of caffeine in those who are sleep deprived is not effective at increasing their alertness level and performance productivity.
In the study, the participants spent sleep time in the laboratory, and were given caffeine at 8 a.m. and at 12 p.m., every day. Then they will take a series of tests related to mood, drowsiness, when you wake up or wake up, and reaction time. The researchers also performed cognitive tests every hour when they woke up.
The results of this study, according to the researchers, are surprising because caffeine is known as a stimulant that many people use when they feel it sleepy or to "fight" decreased productivity performance from lack of sleep.
This research also shows that the dose of caffeine present in the coffee you drink is not enough to prevent a decrease in performance over the course of several days because you are sleep deprived. However, this study did not mention whether those who were sleep deprived should increase their caffeine intake or not. From this study it can be concluded that the effect of coffee is not effective for those of you who are indeed lacking sleep hours.
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